EXPRESSION OF SPLICE VARIANTS OF MTS1 GEN E IN NORMAL AND NEOPLASTIC HUMAN TISSUES

Data on cloning of cDNA corresponding to human mts1 gene transcripts a re presented. By comparing nucleotide sequences of the genomic DNA clo ne and cDNA of mts1, it was shown that human osteosarcoma OHS cells co ntain two alternative splice variants of mts1 transcripts. Alternative splicing occurs in the 5'-untranslated region of the mts1 pre-mRNA. B oth splice variants, hu-mts1 and hu-mts1 (var), demonstrate similar st ability in the cells, and each contains one open reading frame for the MTS1 protein. However, the two types of transcripts are translated wi th different effectiveness. The level of transcription of mts1 splice variants in different normal and neoplastic tissues and cell lines var ies significantly. The role of alternative splicing as the mechanism r esponsible for posttranscriptional regulation of mts1 gene expression is discussed.